Historic Smoke-Free Ontario Act is a joint effort

Archived Release

Historic Smoke-Free Ontario Act is a joint effort

May 18, 2006 12:00 A.M.

Tackling the number one preventable cause of death in Ontario takes teamwork QUEEN'S PARK, ON, May 18 - Ontario Minister of Health Promotion Jim Watson today paid tribute to the invaluable contribution of community partners in the development of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2005. In a statement to the legislature, Watson said the Act, which takes effect on May 31, has been the product of three decades of grassroots work done by volunteers in the charitable, medical, business, public health and research communities. "Rarely does a government have the privilege of passing a piece of legislation that will make such a positive and progressive difference in the health of Ontarians," said Watson. "On behalf of the McGuinty government, I want to thank and acknowledge the efforts of all our partners in helping us reach this historic milestone." The Act is just one example of how the McGuinty government is working to protect the health and well-being of Ontario families. Other initiatives include: - Preventing avoidable illness and death through a ban on smoking in enclosed public places and enclosed workplaces - Supporting grassroots youth programs that make the most of peer-to-peer communications as the best way to discourage young people from starting to smoke - Helping smokers to quit by boosting funding for the Smokers' Helpline. To learn more about the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, please call INFOline at 1-866-396-1760, TTY at 1-800-387-5559. Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm. Disponible en français www.mhp.gov.on.ca www.healthyontario.comFor further information: Rui Manuel Estevao, Minister's Office, (416) 326-8497; Julie Rosenberg, Communications Branch, (416) 326-4833

This document was published on May 18, 2006 and is provided for archival and research purposes.

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